OREANDA-NEWS. April 25, 2014. During the Government session the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk ordered to take measures to stabilize the market of medical products.

He informed that the Cabinet at its session will consider three draft resolutions relating to this issue.

The Prime Minister said that the Government held a meeting with producers and importers of medicines, representatives of industry associations and associations representing patients.

Total market of medicines and medical products in Ukraine is USD 4.3 billion. "Ukrainians are spending UAH 50 billion for the purchase of medicines," he said.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that the Parliament passed a proposed law by the Cabinet of Ministers on the reducing VAT on medicines from 20% to 7% and the establishment of a single VAT rate. The Prime Minister said that he asked yesterday the State Customs Service to clearance all medicines that are on the customs without delays.

Other issue of the Government’s agenda, as the Prime Minister noted concerns the transparency of tenders in the pharmaceutical industry. He said that the Ministry of Health has announced a tender for a total of UAH 2.2 billion for the purchase of medicines and medical products. "I demand that tenders will be transparent this year. The competition, which is aimed for only one - the lowest price for medicines," the PM said.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also stressed the need to implement the decision to settle the price of medicines. He noted that the exchange rate over the past two months has increased by 20% while drug prices increased much more, sometimes up to 60%: "I appeal to anyone who sells medical products and drugs if the rate increased by 20%, which means 20% rather than 120%."

Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health to monitor this issue, and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade through the State Inspection for Price Control to control the implementation of decisions for state regulation of prices for medicines.

"I stand for that all earn, but I protest that in this extremely difficult situation they earn through speculation on human life and human problems. Now it is the time when all should support each other. And this support is in honesty, openness and transparency and compassion for each other," Mr. A.Yatsenyuk added.

The Prime Minister appealed to the Minister of Health to conduct an audit of sales of medicines in hospitals and health care facilities; "It often happens that the head doctor is also the owner of a pharmacy in the hospital, and he raises the price for medicines by 30-40% higher. This is wrong, when in fact the heads use their administrative position and do business instead treat patients."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also stressed the need to consult with European partners on a system of compensation for the purchased drugs and on the expansion of the program within the overall reform of the healthcare.

The Prime Minister said that the draft resolutions that are on the agenda of the session, will allow people to buy cheaper and better medicines: "So that we move by the path to develop a new health care system in Ukraine."